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S eptember 11, 1996 • I ìie P ori land O bsi rvi r
P age C4
Hispanic entrepreneurs advocate education & effort
B y S teve E. S wenson ,
T he B akersfield C alifornian
Recent university graduate Marta
Chiprés o f Lamont says she’s proud
to follow in the footsteps o f her par­
ents in business.
Her father, Salvador Chiprés, 51,
came to California from Mexico in
1968, worked in the fields, went to
school, climbed a corporate ladder
and then formed his own construc­
tion and development business in
Lamont where he bought a small
shopping center and built 40 homes
last year
Her mother, Concepción Chiprés,
55, had a flair for sewing beautiful
dresses that led to opening a bridal
and formal-attire shop in Lamont.
The shop, which the mother named
M arta’s after her now 26-year-old
daughter, attracted Marta away from
a medical career. With M arta’s help
and innovations, a second shop will
be opening soon in Bakersfield.
Two other members o f the family,
Salvador Jr., 22, and Sergio, 20, both
attend California State University at
Bakersfield the school Marta grad-
uated from in 1995 with a chemistry
degree — and help their father in his
business.
The family represents a growing
trend o f Hispanic business people
whose ranks swelled more than 56
percent in Kern County between 1987
and 1992, according to a recent U.S.
Census report.
The story o f the Chipres family is
one o f pursuing their own goals
through education, hard work and
the help o f a supportive community.
They not only employ themselves,
but they employ others — as many as
15 to 20 people in the construction
business, and six full-time and two
part-time employees in the shop.
Education is the key, the patriarch
said. "If you’re going to be a success,
you have to go to school,” said
Chipres, who first learned English at
night school and then learned con­
struction and business skills. “You
have to be prepared.”
Salvador Chipres was born in Las
Fuentes in the state o f Michoacan in
central Mex ico. Concepcion was bom
in the nearby community o f La Planta
but they didn’t mee, each other until
he moved to Fresno a few years after
she did.
Speaking only Spanish, Chipres
began working in a vineyard but later
moved to the dehydrator machinery
that turns the grapes into raisins. The
dehydrator job paid less, but lasted
much longer and had more stability,
he recalled.
He lived in Kerman where he met
Concepción, and the couple married
in 1969. Two years later, he learned
he could make more money in Lamont
— $ 1.85 an hour rather than $ 1.50 an
hour — so they moved to Lamont.
He had begun taking English nigh,
classes in Fresno, and he continued
that through Dee Reiser a, a church in
Lamont. She encouraged him to take
other classes at Arvin High School
and Bakersfield College.
During the day he worked in the
v ineyards a, Roberts Farms unti 11975
when he started to work for Ameri­
can Home Industries in Bakersfield,
which made modular homes. Think­
ing he would be doing construction
work on his first day, he was sur-
U.S. Hispanic, Black Chambers' new
chairmen have much in common
by E mily N arvaes ,
T he D enver P ose
When Denver businessman Ron
M ontoya- the newly elected chair­
man o f the U.S. Hispanic Chamber
o f Commerce— someday heads to
Washington to address minority busi­
ness issues, he’ll have a friend at the
table.
T hat friend will be H erm an
Malone, a Denver business owner
who was elected chairman o f the
National Black Chamber o f Com­
merce earlier this month in Chicago.
The two men seem to be on similar
paths: At one time, both headed up
local chamber organizations. Both
run telecommunications businesses.
And now both will be in influential
positions when it comes to advocacy
of such national issues as affirmative
action and parity in job opportuni­
ties.
“ I think that’s great for Denver,”
said Harry Alford, founder and pres­
ident ofthe National Black Chamber
ofCommerce. The organization plans
to hold its annual convention in Den­
ver next year. “ 11 speaks ofthe minor­
ity business leadership there.
“ I think Mayor Webb and others
should be very proud o f that.”
M alone’s organization may have
challenges ahead because it has plen­
ty o f growing to do.
The National Black Chamber,
which was founded in 1993, repre­
sents 114 chambers across the coun­
try, including a Colorado chapter.
The organization represents some
25,000 business people around the
nation— small compared with the
750,000 aligned with the Hispanic
chamber formed in 1979.
“We’ve only been in existence three
years— give us time,” said Malone,
who started his business, today known
as RMES Communications Inc., in his
basemen, 20 years ago.
The company, which has about 45
employees, installs fiber-optic cable
and video conferencing technology
and maintains communications sys­
tems. The National Park Service and
the Pentagon have been am ong
Malone’s clients, as have local com­
munications giants TCI and US West.
The company is also one o f 26
serving as an Internet provider for
small businesses with government
contracts.
Malone was once president o f the
local black chamber, and began work­
ing on national issues in 1991 as a
board member ofthe Minority Busi­
ness Enterprise Legal Defense and
Education Fund. Soon after, Malone
jumped on board when Alford found­
ed a group specifically dedicated to
black business issues.
Malone says he knows what it
feels like to be turned down for a
business loan for reasons that weren’t
justified. He is a staunch supporter of
affirmative action.
“Some o f the same things I faced
in 1976 are still present today, unfor­
tunately
lack o f access to capital,
lack o f contracting opportunities,”
he sfljtj- “I think there’s definitely a
bias in the marketplace today?’
Demand for alternative newspapers growing
Periódicos alternativas creciendo, en demanda
prised when his boss handed him a
broom, he recalled
But he took the attitude, "W herev­
er they need help, I jump right in
there " He said, “They gave me more
opportunities” and with the support
of company President David Cross,
he rose to the rank of superintendent
before he left in 1986
Meanwhile, he improved his life
in other areas, quickly realizing it
was better to own a home than rent
one; taking more drafting and con­
struction classes at Bakersfield Col­
lege, and doing handyman jobs on
the side.
He bought a second home for
$ 14,000, spent $5,500 to fix it up and
listened to an offer o f $40,000 from
someone who wanted to buy it.
He kept it instead, using the equity
in it and his firs, home to buy other
old homes and renovate them for sale
or to rent. He said he sometimes
bought two or three homes a year to
increase his holdings.
By 1986, he figured he could go
into business for himself, which he
Many markets in the United States support more
than one alternative weekly newspaper. The num­
ber o f alternative publications has soared. The
Washington, D.C.-based Association o f Alterna­
tive Newsweeklies now has 103 members, up from
24 when the group was founded 18 years ago, said
executive director Richard Karpel.
In the past five years, the combined revenues
and circulation o f alternative weeklies nationwide
have doubled, to roughly $300 million and 6
million respectively in 1995, he said.
Advertisers like the prime-quality demograph­
ics o f alternative newspaper readers, who tend to
be young, affluent, active and educated consumers
who spend a lot on travel, entertainment and ex­
pensive items.
Changing reader habits are also spurring the rising
popularity o f alternative weeklies. As busy consum­
ers are bombarded with up-to-the-minute news, they
are craving longer, explanatory pieces, said Paul
Gullixson, editor ofthe Palo Alto Weekly.
“There is a certain evergreen quality about
weekly news,” he said. “ People can keep the
papers on the coffee-table and pick them up four
days later. They don’t feel they have to read them
right away.”
Muchos mercados en los Estados Unidos soportan más
que uno periódico alternativo semanal. El número de
publicaciónes alternativos ha subido. El Asociación de
Periódicos de Semanales Alternativos, situado en W ash­
ington, D.C., ahora tiene 103 miembros, arriba de 24
cuando el grupo ha fundado hace 18 años, dijo director
ejecutivo Richard Karpel.
En los últimos cinco años, el renta y circulación
combinado de semanales alternativos en este país se ha
doblado, hasta aproxidamcnte $300 milioncs y 6 miliones
respectivamente en 1995, dijo.
Publiciadores le gustan los demográficos de primera
calidad de lectores de periódicos alternativos, quienes
tienen una tendencia a ser joven, afluente, activo y educado
consum idores quienes gastan m ucho sobre viajar,
entretenimiento y cosas expensivos.
Cambiado hábitosde lectores están también espoleando
el popularidad creciente de semanals alternativos. Cuando
consumidores atareados son bombardeado con noticias
de este momento, aquellos desean piezas más largas y
explicatavo, dijo Paul Gullixson, editor de la Palo Alto
Weckly.
— Hay un cierto calidad (evergreen) acerca de noticias
semanal— dijo. — La gente puedan quedarse con las
papeles en la mesa y los recogen arriba cuatro dias más
tarde. Ellos no sienten que tienen que leerlos ahora.—
Your Advertisement in the
Observador will reach 27,000
Readers with each issue.
Call (503)288-0033.
“Committed to Cultural Diversity”
by S ean C ruz , E ditor
P ortland O bservador
American cultures as well.
A few weeks ago. Chuck Wash­
ington, the publisher o f the Port­
land Observer, invited me to his
offices to discuss a number o f gen­
eral issues pertainingto the Hispan­
ic community. Chuck was aware o f
the changing demographics o f the
Portland Metropolitan Area, and
wanted to find ways to offer a forum
to the Hispanic community (or—
better said—communities) through
which the Observer’s masthead slo­
gan could be made concrete:
Chuck felt that it was vital to the
interests o f the community as a whole
for the observer to encourage the
different cultures and ethnic groups
that make up our rapidly growing
and changing population to get on
the same page, so to speak.
Recognizing that one can make a
commitment to multi-cultural diver­
sity in the Hispanic communities
alone, we herewith set forth, hoping
that we might find common ground
upon which we can build bridges
between cultures, to the benefit o f
one and all.
A com m itm ent to community
“Committed to
Cultural Diversity”
This slogan that appears at the
top o f each section o f the newspa­
per is not there for cosmetic rea­
sons Chuck was eager to put into
practice his vision o f a newspaper
appealing to an increasingly multi­
cultural population, and was ac­
tively looking for ways to make it
happen.
.
“The first step is very simple,” I
said. “After that it gets more com­
plex.”
“What is the first step?” He asked.
“Buy me something to eat,” I
replied.
As we worked our way through
the first step, we discussed ways in
which the Observer might address
the needs and interests o f Hispan­
ics, and also provide information
about Hispanic culture to the Ob­
server’s traditionally largely Afri­
can-American base o f readers.
At the same time, Chuck made it
clear that the commitment he envi­
sioned making was to multi-cultur­
al diversity, that over the next few
months he would take steps to de­
velop elements o f the Observer that
would embrace Asian and Native
Hispanic diversity
The Hispanic community is per­
haps the most diverse o f ethnicities.
One can be o f any race or pigmenta­
tion and be Hispanic. The President
o f Peru, for in stan ce, A lb e rto
Fujimora, is both Asian and Hispan­
ic, a point that also illustrates the
inclusiveness o f Latino culture.
A political aside
The United States has not yet
reached the point where either major
party is willing to nominate a person
o f Hispanic or Asian ancestry to the
nation’stop twooffices. Both parties
have been eager to court the services
o f retired General Colin Powell, but
that enthusiasm has been generated
more from a cynical desire to add
votes to the ticket than from any
commitment to include persons o f
color or o f minority ethnicity in stra­
tegic decision-making. Both parties
must be saving that historic moment
for the 2 1 st century.
Register to vote, and vote
at least once
Your vote counts. Yourvote is your
voice. Su voto es su voz. Become
involved in the political process.
The very minimum that you owe
.7 n Oregon, opportunity means
great benefits, competitive salaries,
and a large variety of careers available
statewide. Currently, openings exist in
the following agencies:
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION
Orejpn Department of Transportation
(OOOT), is known throughout the nation
as a progressive government agency
and as a leader in team development
and performance measures. 000T Is
responsible for the coordination of
transportation progams between and
among all governmental organizations
within the state. Wfe have immediate
opportunities for the following position:
Structural Managing Engineer
We
are
seeking
Registered
Professional Engineers with strong
leadership skills
for multiple
positions located in Salem. Will plan, assign and direct the work of the
Structural Design Unit and function as a bridge engineering expert and
consultant of the Bridge Section for bridges and related structures. Requires
three years of management experience which Included responsibility for
development of program rules and policies, goal setting, program evaluation
and budget preparation. Bridge engineering experience a must. Salary $3,365
- $4,742 monthly + benefits. Completed application materials must be
received by September 3 0 ,1 9 9 6 . Announcement No. 0CDT6301. Call (5 0 3 )
9 8 6 -4 0 3 0 (TTY 5 03 -9863854) to request application packet.
For other 0D 0 T opportunities c a l our Recruitment JOBLINE at (5 0 3 ) 9 8 6 3 8 4 7 .
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Principal E x e c u tly e /M a n ag e r G
(Financial Services Director)
S
U
B
S
C
R
I P
T
I O
N
Subscribe to the Observer and receive
the Observador also! Only $30 for one year!
Suscríbase al Observer y reciba
el Observador también! Solamente $ 30 por un año
C a I I ( 5 0 3 ) 2 8 8 - 0 0 3 3
I
now fully occupied, a condition he
said is true on most of Main Street
While he pursued his business
ventures, his wife raised the children
to school age. Marta recalled how
her mother sewed clothes for them,
giving her pretty dresses and her
brothers three-piece suits to wear for
picture days at school.
That talent, displayed in M arta’s
First Communion dress — "a gor­
geous lace gown with a rose pattern
in the lace and ruffles on the skirt,"
Marta praised — prompted other
orders from neighbors and turned
Concepcidn’s interest to the clothing
business.
In 19 8 1, Concepcion bought $700
worth o f clothing and resold it to
friends and neighbors from her home.
Her husband thought she needed a
shop, so he bought her a space at
10814 Main St. and she opened
M arta’s Clothing in 1982.
The store was later expanded to
3,500-square-feet and changed from
family clothing to wedding dresses
and formal attire after Family Bar-
©IBS ER VAND©
A commitment Is a commitment
— S a n Francisco Chronicle
the courses to get a construction li­
cense.
Through his business, Chipres
Salvador Construction, he began to
build homes, starting with three hous­
es in Greenfield and expanding to 15
homes in the firs, phase o fthe Vine­
yards on the west side o f Lamont, 25
homes in Georgetown on the south
side and 40 homes last year in the
second phase o f the Vineyards.
He used private money to build
his business, he said. He recalled a
bank turned him down for a $ 15,000
loan on a $ 15,000 vacant lot he owned
free and clear
“ I guess they wanted me to prove
myself,” he said “ But 1 believed in
what I was doing. I believed in my­
self.”
Now, he said, banks are much
friendlier, more receptive — and they
come to him. He’s done business
with ValliWide and he’s impressed
with Sierra National, he said.
One o f his investments was to buy
a 10,000-square-foot shopping cen­
ter at 10504 Main St. in Lamont in
The Oregon Department of Human Resources is recruiting for the position
of Financial Services Director. The Director o f Financial Services Is
responsible for the accounting, contracting, branch office leasing and
purchasing functions of the Department. To qualify, you m ust have a
minimum o f seven years of increasingly responsible and successful
management experience in a public or private organization which includes
responsibility for selection and hiring of staff, planning, budgeting,
developing policy, evaluating programs, developing community partnerships
and related activities. Experience In all phases of government and general
accounting principles is essential. Salary range: $ 49,176 to $ 69 ,18 0
annually with a liberal benefits package. Announcement # ES410006. To
apply, please submit a letter of application, your resume and a one- or two-
page narrative explaining how your background, experience and training
qualify you for this position. Please te n d th is Information to: Charts
M artin , D epartm en t of Human Resources, Personnel Services Section,
to your country, to your communi­
ty, to your family and to yourself is
to become aware o f the stakes and
be counted. Read! Learn! Act!
Vote! Vótele!
Back to the Observador
As the O bservador develops as a
companion to the Observer, we will
strive to find something to say that
offers insights and inclusiveness to
all o f our readers. Hispanic culture
is both sophisticated and elemental
both modern and ancient, both rich
and poor.
It springs from multiple origins
and manifests itself in infinite per
mutations, sometimes in unity and
sometimes in contradiction. In this
condition borne o f historical fact
lies both its strength and its weak­
ness as a people.
W rite us, call or send E-mail
T he P o rtla n d O b se rv e r and
Observador are interactive media.
You can have a role in your commu­
nity newspaper! You can be the
news!
T he e d ito ria l s ta f f o f the
Observador is particularly interest­
ed in covering events and occasions
that are catered, or which involve
auctioning o ff the Editor as a dinner
companion (for legitimately chari­
table or fine dining purposes only).
The Observador as you see it is
the result o f the work o f a number of
talented people, but above all it is
the product o f the commitment and
vision o f Chuck Washington and
the Washington family, and their
willingness to bring barbecue to the
office.
We look forward to receiving
your comments and letters and,
above all, your meals.
Mail: 4747 NE MLK Blvd.,
Portland, OR.
E-mail: Pdxobserv@aol.com
9 4 6 5 6 7 6 . The deadline for these materials
to be submitted to our office Is 5:00pm ,
September 24, 1996.
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER
AND BUSINESS SERVICES
Policy Unit M anager
W orkers’ Compensation Division
The Oregon Department of Consumer and
Business Services is seeking an executive with solid management skills to serve
as Manager of Oregon's Workers' Compensation Division Policy Unit. The Workers'
compensation Division (WCD) administers, regulates and enforces laws and
administrative rules governing the Oregon workers' compensation industry as well
as various monetary reserves established by law. As Policy Unit Manager, you will
serve as a key advisor to the Workers’ Compensation Division Administrator and
Deputy Administrator by researching, analyzing and evaluating issues, and making
policy recommendations related to division program responsibilities. To qualify, you
must have at leas, three years of management experience in a public or private
organization which included responsibility fo r a) development of program rules
and policies; b) long and short-range goals and plans; c) program evaluation; and
d) budget preparation OR three years o, professional experience as a project
leader, assigning and reviewing work of professional staff including project
responsibility for developing goals and objectives, project evaluation, and
monitoring and controlling or preparing a budge,. Preference may be given to
applicants with Oregon Workers' Compensation program management
experience, a Law degree, and/or a Bachelor’s degree with courses in law and
experience conducting contested case hearings. Salary range: $40,380 to
$56,904 annually, plus health, dental, pension, paid holidays, vacation and sick
leave benefits. To apply for this position, please send a resume and cover letter,
no more than three pages, which addresses your specific experience in the major
areas of responsibility outlined above. In addition, please include a Ils, of a, least
four references who have knowledge of your management and leadership skills.
Send application materials to Department of Consumer and Business Services.
Employee Services Section, 3 5 0 Winter Street NE, Room 150 , Salem, OR
9 7 3 1 0 , fax (5 0 3 ) 3 7 6 5 9 6 9 . Application must be received by 5:00pm on
September 2b, ia y b .
OREGON STATE LIBRARY
Program Information Specialist
Join the Oregon State Library's Talking Book and Braille Services team.
Requirements: Braille reading skills; three years of clerical experience including
2 years In a library or related setting . Position coordinates service to
institutions and provides customer service to individual users. Salary range
$1,704 to $2,261. Application avaiahie from Judyth LeHhelt, (5 0 3 ) 2 7 6 4 2 4 3
e x t 2 2 1 . Judyth.,.leifheltestate.or.us. Deadline is September 27, 1996. The
Oregon State Library Is committed to cultural diversity.
/ hese are ju st some of the current openings available w ith the S ta te of
Oregon. For additional Inform ation, a copy of the
S ta te of Oregon
Application Form and more com plete announcem ent listings, call the
S ta te Jobllne (Oregonian Inside Line) ( 5 0 3 ) 2 2 6 5 5 5 5 « 7 7 7 7 , TTY ( 5 0 3 )
3 7 8 -4 8 7 2 , visit your local Em ploym ent D e partm en t, or log onto our w eb
$ 0 0 Sum m er S treet NE, 4 th Floor, Salem , OR 9 7 3 1 6 1 0 0 5 or fax to ( 5 0 3 )
site s t h ttp ://w w w .d a s .s ta te .o r .u s /lo b e /. The S ta te of Oregon and all Its
3 7 6 8 4 8 3 . If you need additional Inform ation, please telephone ( 5 0 3 )
divisions are proud to be equal opportunity employers.
I